Hypericum plant named ‘Seihero’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hypericum  plant named ‘Seihero’, characterized by its yellow-colored flowers, large, red-colored fruit, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Hypericum androsaemum.

Variety denomination: ‘Seihero’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant botanically known as Hypericum androsaemum, used commercially as stems with fruit and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Seihero’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elmshorn, Germany during July 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Hypericum cultivars with unique and large attractive fruit coloration.

The new Hypericum cultivar is the result of open-pollination using a bulk of proprietary female and male Hypericum androsaemum parent plants, not patented, characterized by large brown-colored berries or small berries ranging in color from red to pink. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during June 2003 in a controlled environment at Elmshorn, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2003 at Elmshorn, Germany and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Seihero’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant:

-   -   1. Yellow-colored flowers;     -   2. Large, red-colored fruit;     -   3. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   4. Vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in the size of red-colored fruit.

Of the many commercially available Hypericum cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Excellent Flair’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Excellent Flair’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a fruit color different from         plants of ‘Excellent Flair’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a leaf color different from         plants of ‘Excellent Flair’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a mature stem color different         from ‘Excellent Flair’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller inflorescences than         plants of ‘Excellent Flair’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Seihero’. The plants were grown outdoors in the ground for approximately 15 months at Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of flowers, fruits, and the overall growth habit of ‘Seihero’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flower of ‘Seihero’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of the fruit of ‘Seihero’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Aug. 2, 2007 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants grown outdoors in the ground at Elburn, Ill. under commercial production practices when outdoor temperatures typically range in fall and winter months from an average low of 12° F. (−11° C.) to 32° F. (0° C.) to an average high of 29° F. (−1° C.) to 50° F. (10° C.) and in spring and summer months from an average low of 40° F. (4° C.) to 65° F. (18° C.) to an average high of 66° F. (18° C.) to 86° F. (30° C.). Plants were about 15 months old.

-   Botanical classification: Hypericum androsaemum cultivar Seihero. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A proprietary mix of Hypericum androsaemum             plants, not patented.         -   Male parent.—A proprietary mix of Hypericum androsaemum             plants, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 to 21 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 2 months.         -   Root description.—Fine, white.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. Height of entire             root structure: Approximately 50 cm. Diameter of entire root             structure: Approximately 100 cm. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Erect, perennial, woody shrub; broad, inverted             triangle.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, dense bushy.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 54.5 cm. Width: Approximately 55.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of lateral             branches per plant: Approximately 11. Production of             harvestable stems increases with age of plant and remains             constant after three years of growth.         -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Length:             Approximately 48.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 5.1 cm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color of young stem: 144B with an overlay             of 185A. Color of mature stem: 177B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 19. Form: Simple, sessile. Arrangement:             Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Oval to lanceolate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf: Approximately 8.1 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 3.6 cm. Texture of upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color             of upper surface of young foliage: Darker than 144A with             venation of 144C. Color of lower surface of young foliage:             138B with venation of 144C. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: 139A with venation of 144C. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 147C with venation of 144C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Seihero’ flowers throughout the summer             under outdoor growing conditions and produces harvestable             cut stems with fruit beginning in August; flowering period             typically lasts about 60 days.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             14 days.         -   Lastingness of individual flower as a cut             flower.—Approximately 12 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Compound umbel, not persistent.             Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 5 to 6.             Fragrance: None. Length or height: Approximately 4.2 cm.             Width: Approximately 4.7 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Approximately 45° angle             from stem. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A             with an overlay of 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Aspect: Upright.         -   Bud.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Color: 14A.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 3.4 cm.             Depth: Approximately 2.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, nonimbricate. Shape: Oval. Appearance:             Flat, turning downward with age. Aspect: Slightly concave.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Length:             Approximately 1.6 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of             upper surface when first open: 13A. Color of lower surface             when first open: 12A. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 13A. Color of lower surface when fully open: 13B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Divergent, downward turning. Length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, nonimbricate. Shape: Oval.             Appearance: Flat. Margin: Entire. Apex: Apiculate. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width:             Approximately 6.6 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color of upper surface of immature sepals:             144A. Color of lower surface of immature sepals: 144B. Color             of upper surface of mature sepals: 144A with an overlay of             59A at apex. Color of lower surface of mature sepals: 144B             with an overlay of 59A at apex.         -   Pedicels.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Approximately 45° angle             from peduncle. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter:             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A with a faint             overlay of 183C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity:             Approximately 90. Stamen length: Ranges from 1.0 cm to             1.4 cm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 17C. Filament color: 3B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 3             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma             shape: Globular. Stigma color: 17A. Style length:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Style color: 150D. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Ovary color: Between 150C and 150D.         -   Fruit.—Type: Capsule. Taste: Bitter. Shape: Ellipsoidal.             Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 3 to 5. Quantity             fruit clusters per plant: Approximately 42. Days to             ripening: Approximately 10 days to color and 30 days to             seed. Longevity on plant: Approximately 30 days. Length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.7 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color of immature fruit: 145A.             Color of mature fruit: Between 42A and 42B.         -   Seed.—Quantity per fruit: Typically more than 100. Length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 200D. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Hypericum have been     observed to be resistant to rust. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Hypericum have been observed to     tolerate temperatures ranging from −10° C. to 35° C., and to     demonstrate tolerance to rain and wind effects. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant named ‘Seihero’, substantially as herein shown and described. 